Heartened as we are about Charlie being at his new school, we both feel a bit of a twinge about his being in a "more restricted" placement, a separate school for autistic children. While (ironically) Charlie is in many ways less restricted at the new school—able to walk through the building, to eat in the … Continue reading →

We don't worry about this kind of 'autism recovery' in these parts, as you know. But we're more than glad to report on what some might say is a too modest sort of "recovery," in which one is able again to do simple things—having dinner with friends—that, due to circumstances, one had feared one would … Continue reading →

We don't worry about this kind of 'autism recovery' in these parts, as you know. But we're more than glad to report on what some might say is a too modest sort of "recovery," in which one is able again to do simple things—having dinner with friends—that, due to circumstances, one had feared one would … Continue reading →

This post is just a brag about our beautiful boy who, with his ever-loving dad, did 12 miles on his bike Saturday morning. Charlie and Jim have several routes, the new "urban" one (because it goes through the small center of our town), one that brings them by that bagel store, and another that was … Continue reading →

“Does he have friends?” I always pause when people ask me that about Charlie. Do they mean “same-aged peers who he regularly sees and plays and interacts with”? The answer is no, in that case. Sometimes my interlocutor presses on: “Well, what about his classmates? They’re his friends, aren’t they?” Well, not exactly, would be … Continue reading →

“I’m sorry we’re meeting under these circumstances.” The mother of an autistic boy a few years older than Charlie said that to me back in 1999. She is the friend of a friend, very active, very informed; we were encouraged to call her. The sentence above was the first thing she said to me over … Continue reading →

“I’m sorry we’re meeting under these circumstances.” The mother of an autistic boy a few years older than Charlie said that to me back in 1999. She is the friend of a friend, very active, very informed; we were encouraged to call her. The sentence above was the first thing she said to me over … Continue reading →

“We are back in business!” Jim proclaimed as he took off his coat this evening. We had just come back from a day with Charlie’s friend from Philadelphia, Hal (whom Charlie, not yet able to say the final short /a/ and the /l/ at the end, calls “How”). Hal knocked on the door while Charlie … Continue reading →